Sacrifice and Honour

Posted on Monday, 30 March 2020 - 10:16am by Commander Soral & Lieutenant T'Lanna Vali
Edited on on Monday, 30 March 2020 - 10:16am

Mission: Operation: Overdrive
Location: Mess Hall | USS Fontana
Timeline: 2393 (Midnight Hour) After Uncomfortable Conversations 2

{ON:}

Sleep had become an evasive creature that Soral was unable to capture. He'd spent hours tossing and turning before he'd given up. Dressing casually in a black pair of loose pants and a tan t-shirt he'd made his way to his favourite place on the ship. When that had failed to help he'd begun to wander, grateful for the cover of night. He'd met only few people and mostly those finishing the re-fit. He'd briefly contemplated leaving the ship but as he'd walked by the mess hall he'd seen a piano.

Looking around and ensuring that nobody was there he sat and his hands played a few keys. His mind was racing with T'Aurora and other things. His mind was on honour and duty and sacrifice and soon an old earth song began to come to mind, a singer he'd seen holos of from 1989. His hands began to play the tune. Melodically first. He closed his eyes and slowly the words began to pour out of him.

T'Lanna was up and about as well, it was her first night on a new ship and she always found it hard to settle on her first night. Taking a walk she was passing the mess hall when her Vulcan hearing caught the sound of music melodically coming from inside, she slowly approached the doors and walked inside surprised to see Soral not just playing but singing as well. His voice was amazing and the song touched that place in her heart that all feeling songs did, she stood in the shadows and waited for him to finish.

It had been so long since he'd sung but as the song wound into the chorus his voice seemed to find it's strength, ".....no sacrifice at aaaallll.." His hands slowly ended the tune lightly touching the final key. He sat there a minute further letting the silence and the last remnants of the music filter out of his body. Finally he slowly began to open his eyes.

"That was beautiful" T'Lanna stepped out of the shadows and offered a warm smile. She was wearing a short sleeved trouser suit, it had been the easiest thing to grab out of her suitcase for her walk. "You have a wonderful voice Commander."

Soral was momentarily shocked by the presence and by the fact that he hadn't sensed anyone there. He recovered quickly slipping into the Vulcan shell he'd built so well. "My apologies. I did not know anyone was there." He closed the piano and stood giving his usual small bow of greeting. "Counselor." He paused a moment. "I shall leave the room to you."

"Comm... Soral, please don't go." T'Lanna stood hoping he wouldn't leave. "It sounds to me like you have something weighing on your mind. I realise we don't know each other very well but I'm a good listener." She smiled. "I am the ships Psychologist after all."

He stopped. "The ship is preparing to leave, the crew is not fully formed, the mission at hand, there are several things weighing on my mind it is only logical." He wasn't lying all these things were on his mind. Before she could poke further he turned the tables. "You find it difficult to find rest. Are the quarters alright. If you wish I can have you reassigned to other quarters."

"I always find it hard to rest on my first night in a new place, I always have." T'Lanna offered a smile. "As much as I appreciate your... professional concern, I don't think that a song sung from the heart is about this ship or her crew. A song that is sung from the heart, as yours was, is usually about a deeper, more personal matter. That was how I felt after I lost my boyfriend."

If she was going to provide him an opportunity to dig into her past, the former security officer in him would take it. It would push her away from digging into his. "Vulcan's cannot sing from the heart that would ascribe emotions to us that are not present." He paused, "You did mention that you were no longer with your boyfriend. It must have been difficult. I know Betazoids form an empathic bond with their significant others as well."

"We do but only with those we fully bond with, much like a Vulcan bonding." She took a seat. "We weren't together that long, he was assigned to an away team that... Never came home." She paused and took a deep breath. "You are doing a good job of changing the subject Soral so what, or who, are you troubled by?"

He pondered the question for a long time before he responded. "I am sorry for your loss." He paused and then, "Tell me you have experience in profiling people and planetary mind sets do you not?"

"I do" She nodded. "And no, I'm not profiling you. I'm just going by what I felt from the song you were singing so beautifully."

He shrugged. "While at the Academy I, what is it humans say? Ah yes, I earned my keep by playing and singing, it was not Vulcan but necessary. A singing Vulcan provided ample draw and an ample income." He paused. "Perhaps you can help answer some questions for me."

T’Lanna nodded. “Ask whatever you wish Commander.”

"It's a given that Vulcans, as a whole, are a dedicated race. They, much like Klingons, value honour, is it not so?"

T’Lanna nodded. “It is. Honour is extremely important.”

"And it is well known that Vulcans adhere to a the rule that the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few or the one."

Once again T’Lanna nodded. It was something her father had said to her many times in the past.

"Thus we can logically deduce that the needs of the few outweigh the needs of the one."

T’Lanna nodded. “Logically, that is correct.”

"So we can conclude that for any Vulcan there is a measure of sacrifice of self and the personal to satisfy this honour."

T’Lanna opened her mouth to give her own opinion before realising it wasn’t her place to put her views on the matter to a full blood Vulcan like Soral. She simply nodded in agreement.

There was a pregnant silence before he spoke again, "Indeed. This conversation has been enlightening. You have helped me solve a puzzle I have been working on." He straightened a little, the last drops of softness gone, the Vulcan fully slamming in place. "I am grateful for your assistance with the matter. On another subject have you give thought to the meditation classes and when you would like to begin them?"

T’Lanna wasn’t surprised at the abrupt change of subject, her father was just as prompt when his mind was logically made up. “Now hold on one moment Commander. I understand the importance of logic, heavens knows my father is quick enough to tell me the importance of it. However there is also the case of one’s own well-being to think of. In order to thrive one needs to be happy...” she paused and sighed, emotions were pointless in conversation with a full blood Vulcan. After a moment she changed the subject. “I would very much like to start meditation classes as soon as possible, I need to find my centre and settle myself properly."

"Very well we can begin tomorrow evening if you wish. I have just completed a holodeck program that will be of great assistance to this. 1900 hours tomorrow on Holodeck one?"

T’Lanna nodded. “I will be there. Commander.... May I ask does this honour that you speak of have to do with an arranged marriage?” She was plucking at straws but right now it was one thing that stood out from her Vulcan teachings, although as far as she knew she had no arranged marriage herself.

Soral stood. He reflected on the counselor as he did so. She was perceptive. He'd been careful to keep his shields in place but her Vulcan training with her Betazoid abilities...she would be a great addition to the ship. "Perhaps." He said mysteriously. Soral gave a bow, "Until morrow's eve." He gave a bow and headed out.

T’Lanna raised an eyebrow in typical Vulcan fashion watching him go before saying just one thing. “Fascinating.”

{OFF:}

===

Lieutenant T’Lanna Vali
Psychologist

&

Lieutenant Commander Soral
Executive Officer